29th April 2000 Paris
Trip Start
Apr 27, 2000
1
3
81
Trip End
Aug 09, 2000
Paris,
France
Monday, February 17, 2003
Well, yesterday we only managed St Chapelle. We spent most of the morning wandering the border between the Latin Quarter and St Germain-des-pres. Ches wanted streetscapes, and she got streetscapes. Exhausted by lunchtime, when we bought a baguette and sat in the quiet park alongside the church St Germain-des-Pres. After lunch we went into the church, which is the oldest in Paris, and where Descartes is buried. Next stop we crossed the Seine to visit St Chapelle. It was everything everyone has always said it is. We thought it was supposed to be one of Paris's best-kept secrets. Guess what? Most of Europe and North America know about it. As we are beginning to discover, queuing is going to be a major feature in our travels.
By this stage it was mid afternoon, and Ches decided it was time she assaulted Samartaine, the major department store around a kilometre down the Seine from St Chapelle. For the first half kilometre, we walked past all the little stands that sell posters and second hand books along the path above the Seine. We then crossed, and walked the other side of the road, where all the plant shops spill out onto the footpath. Jam packed with Parisian's out buying their spring plants for their flower boxes etc. We also noticed numerous pet shops, which specialise in rodent type animals, as well as snakes and lizards-they apparently are big on imported exotic animals. That's not to say they aren't fanatical about dogs. All shapes and sizes, taken into shops either on leashes or in carry bags slung over their shoulder.
We eventually made our way to Samartaine, but by this time we had barely enough energy to battle the Saturday afternoon as far as the second floor, whereupon, Cheryl gave up, and we decided to head home. Once again, a two-hour nap turned into an all night sleep.
